Discover Medicine at King’s A beating heart. A strong pulse. Take a look at the energy and vitality of life at King’s College London School of Medicine. Meet some of our faculty, students and graduates. Explore the groundbreaking work of our vital research divisions and our partnerships with world-class teaching hospitals. Patients, too, are featured - they’re at the centre of our research and teaching here in London.
An inspirational place ‘I’ve been inspired by King’s,’ says Dr Zita Manjaly, who gained her MBBS degree here and now works as a junior doctor at King’s College Hospital. ‘When I looked at medical schools in London, I chose King’s because of its reputation and because the degree course focuses on clinical skills. The standard of
teaching was excellent: a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops and very early patient contact – I think that’s important because it takes the fear away.’ Zita’s views are shared by many past and present students. They appreciate our world-class teaching facilities, excellent research record and the clinical experience offered by three internationally renowned teaching hospitals: Guy’s, King’s College and St Thomas’.
State of the heart When surgeons at St Thomas’ Hospital operated on six-year-old Jack Walborn using technology developed by members of the Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, they performed the world’s first heart operation guided by MRI. Professor Reza Razavi described Jack’s operation as ‘a perfect example of translational research in action’. The division’s imaging centre, based at St Thomas’ Hospital, enables clinicians to diagnose life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and cancer with greater speed and accuracy. Minimally invasive procedures are made possible by using new combinations of imaging technologies to navigate through the body.
Joined-up cancer care With strong clinical and research leadership, the Integrated Cancer Centre is embedding research into patient-centred care. The centre is led by Professor Arnie Purushotham (pictured), Head of Research Oncology at King’s and a Consultant Surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. Clinical research studies have already improved the diagnosis and speed of treatment for breast cancer patients. Researchers are working towards bespoke treatments based on an understanding of the individual’s genetic make up.
Virtually anywhere The Virtual Campus gives students access to a vast array of online resources, whether they’re on campus, at home or on clinical placement. It allows students to manage every aspect of their studies, from accessing lecture notes and podcasts, to booking an appointment with their personal tutor and selecting modules. Students can also revisit parts of the curriculum studied in previous years, to relate previous knowledge to the next stage of their studies.
Space to think Chung-Ching Chu, a final year PhD student in the Division of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, is carrying out a study of immune cells in skin. ‘I’ve had full support from the academic staff and senior researchers,’ she says. ‘And the facilities are world-class. My PhD is sponsored by St John’s Institute of Dermatology – it covers my study and living expenses. There are huge academic resources and networking opportunities here. I’ll be keen to maintain the collaboration with my supervisors.’
Mortui vivos docent The dead teach the living. ‘You can learn anatomy without dissection, but you can’t beat hands-on experience,’ says Dr Alistair Hunter (pictured) of the Department of Anatomy & Human Sciences. ‘Here’s a patient with a problem,’ we say, ‘What is it? Students can look at CT and other scans of bodies, and then open them up to see how what’s inside compares to how it appears in imaging. There’s just such a wonderful order to the human body,
and a joy in knowing how it all fits together. I try to impart to my students some of my own enthusiasm and love of the subject.’ Specialist anatomists and dedicated dissection rooms are becoming a rarity in the UK, but here at King’s we’re continuing a long tradition of dissection. There’s no substitute for three-dimensional anatomy in learning about the structure of the human body. As Dr Hunter says, ‘Dissection has important benefits besides imparting anatomical knowledge. It fosters a respect for the human body, develops skills of manual dexterity and builds teamwork.’
From bench to bedside More than 25,000 heart, lung, kidney, liver and pancreas transplants take place in the UK and US each year. Unfortunately, transplantation suffers from a shortage of donor organs and high rates of graft failure beyond the first year. The Division of Transplantation Immunology & Mucosal Biology aims to improve tolerance through better control of the inflammatory and immune response. Professor Randy Noelle and his research team (pictured) are studying the cellular and molecular basis for the impact of vitamin A on immunity. The hope is that manipulation of vitamin A will allow organ transplants without the need for large doses of chemical drugs that can harm the body’s natural defence.
Teaching innovation To back up traditional methods, we’ve pioneered innovative ways to teach clinical skills. In one scheme, senior students pass on their knowledge to more junior students, boosting each other’s confidence and skills. In another, real patients and actors specially trained to teach examination and communication skills promote confidence and competence through direct, patient-centred feedback. Clinical skills teaching takes place in our Clinical Skills Centre and a brand new Simulation and Interactive Learning Centre.
Beyond Britain Pictured is King’s student Sirazum Munir who, as part of King’s student charitable project, Elective Aid, set up health camps in rural Bangladesh, where 60 per cent of the population have no access to basic healthcare. With the aim of improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide, King’s Health Partners has established a Centre for Global Health. It is focused on education and training, service delivery and capacity building, and research and policy development.
Intensive. Caring Fourth-year medical student Alexandra Groves (pictured in the Wills Library), expected her course to be intensive, and it has been, although the supportive environment helps. ‘The tutors are very friendly and you’re assigned a Personal Tutor,’ she says. She also enjoyed the opportunity to study Italian as one of her optional modules. She speaks enthusiastically about her medical studies: ‘Going out onto the wards has changed my perspective; you learn on the spot.’ Madrid-born Alexandra’s skills were put to the test when she spent two months at a hospital in Guatemala for her elective project.
Study at all levels The Gordon Anatomy Museum is a unique resource with the largest collection of pathological specimens, instruments and artefacts in the UK. The museum’s historic collection is continually growing and remains a relevant part of teaching today.
Centuries of success View of the Hodgkin Building, named after the nineteenth century medical scientist Thomas Hodgkin, who worked at Guy’s. There are records of medical instruction at St Thomas’ Hospital going back to 1561 – but we’re focused on the future.
Research. Teach. Care The Cicely Saunders Institute is the only organisation in the world dedicated to research into and the improvement of services relating to end of life care – wherever patients are cared for. Opened by HRH The Princess Royal in 2010, the Institute accommodates clinicians, educators and researchers in palliative care, along with facilities for patients and their carers. Under the leadership of Professor Irene Higginson OBE (pictured, with patient Irene Mead), it has worldwide scope and an ambition to influence the lives of a billion people within 10 years.
Nurturing talent Michael Malim FRS (pictured) is Professor and Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases. He was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society for his important contributions to our understanding of the molecular biology of HIV. In 2010 students voted him PhD Supervisor of the Year, in recognition of his excellent support and supervision. ‘There’s nothing quite like watching PhD students blossom with only mild intervention,’ says Professor Malim. The School of Medicine is dedicated to ensuring the success of postgraduate students: our PhD completion rate is 97 per cent – the highest in the UK.
Doctor. Teacher The doctor in the photograph is Terry Gibson, Consultant and Clinical Lead for Rheumatology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Beside him are King’s medical students.
Always in touch A young patient receiving treatment at King’s College Hospital. Together, King’s Health Partners have over a million patient contacts a year, serving a catchment area which includes more than a quarter of London’s population. Our research is closely aligned with our clinical partners, keeping us in touch and ensuring that patients see real benefits as quickly as possible. Patients are at the centre of everything we do.
No textbook required From Freshers’ Week to graduation, our students enjoy social and sporting activities ranging from painting, dancing and film-making to football, rugby and sailing. And we’re right in the heart of one of the most vibrant cities in the world, with a wealth of arts, culture and entertainment.
London. The world View from the South Bank towards Guy’s Hospital and the City of London. We often say that we have the world on our doorstep. With the most ethnically and socially diverse patient catchment area in Britain, our students observe medical problems with a global dimension. Spending time in our partner hospitals, clinics, general practices and district general hospitals, they meet people from the widest range of cultures and walks of life. Our research work, too, has an international dimension, with the benefits spreading way beyond the UK.
Equal measures We are making sustainable long-term changes to the way we approach and support women’s experiences of working and studying. With exemplary role models and increasing gender equality awareness, the foundations for significant culture change exist. Jo Spencer (pictured) is a Professor of Immunobiology, with research interests in mucosal immunology and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. As a mentor of early career researchers, she is supporting and encouraging women to overcome barriers in career progression.
Challenging times Many of the greatest global challenges facing us today have a health dimension: reducing rates of child mortality; combating HIV/AIDS; accelerating cancer prevention and control/treatment. Exceptional minds are needed to develop and harness the healthcare advances that will transform lives across the world. There has never been a more exciting time to be part of King’s community of specialist researchers, inspirational teachers and outstanding students, united in our mission and commitment to ‘service to society’.
Produced by The Communications & Management Support Unit King’s College London School of Medicine Contributor (copy) Howard Fletcher Design Powell Allen Ltd Photography Greg Funnell, Julian Anderson, Andy Hamilton, Paul Grundy, Phil Sayer, Na’eem Ahmed, King’s Health Partners © King’s College London